Toy electric car



April 27, 1943.

G. H. M. DAHL 2,317,363

TOY ELECTRIC CAR Filec oct. 5, 1939 1o sheets-sheet 1 www April 21 1943. G. H. M. DAHL 2,317,363

TOY ELECTRIC CAR Filed Oct. 5, 1939A l0 lSheets-Shea?.I 2

u D gmc/wrm April 27, 1943'.

G. H. M. DAHI,

TOY ELECTRIC CAR Filed Oct. 5. 1939 v 10 ,Sheets-Sheet 3 April 27, 1943 G. H. M. DAI-1L. 2,317,363

TOY ELECTRIC CAR April 27, 1943. G, H. M. DAI-u. 2,317,363

TOY ELECTRIC CAR Filed Oct.v 5, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 lO Sheets-Sheet 6 G. H. M. DAHL TOY ELECTRIC CAR A Filed oct. 5. 1939 April 27, 1943.

April 27, 1943. G. H. M. DAHL.

TOY ELECTRIC CAR Filed Oct. 5, 1939 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 April 27, 1943. '6. H. M. DA-HL 2,317,363

TOY ELECTRIC CAR Filed oct. 5. |1939, 1o sheets-sheer a glu/vanto@ April 27, 1943. G. H. M. DA1-'1L TOY ELECTRIC CAR Filed Oct. 5, 1939 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 April 27, 1943. G. H. M. DAHL TOY ELECT-RIC CAR Filed oct. V'5, 1939 l0 Sheets-Sheet l0 Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 20 Claims.

My invention relates to a toy electric street railway car, commonly known as a trolley car, and it is an object of the same to provide a car of this type with improved means for opening and closing its door or doors. In oneiorm of the invention such means is completely automatic and is so arranged that the door will not start to open until after the car stops and will begin to close at about the time the car starts to move, but I also contemplate using controlling means that are manually settable for both opening and closing the door or doors.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for opening the door or doors completely at a single full stroke.

Another object oi the invention is to provide improved electrical means for opening and closing such a door. Another object is to provide a car with means for stopping a car when its door is opened, and for subsequently restarting the car and closing the door without the intervention of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby the driving means for the car will change automatically from an overhead system to an underneath system and vice versa, with means to insure that the trolley will engage its wire with safety and certainty.

Another object of the invention is to provide trolley controlling means, particularly adapted for use in a system of the kind just referred to. in which the trolley will be moved through a wide arc by a small movement of its controlling means, and will be securely held against rattling or chattering when in its inoperative position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description and from the annexed drawings which are made a part oi` the application and in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a street car embodying features of my invention,

' Fig. 2, a bottom plan of the same, illustrating the running gear and the door operating means,

Fig'. 3, a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 4, a bottom plan similar to Fig. 2, but showing certain parts in a different position,

' Fig. 5, a vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, Figj, a horizontalsection on line S-B of Fig. 5, Fig. 7, a vertical section on line 'I-l of Fig. 2, Fig. 8, a detail of certain parts shown in Fig. '7,

' Fig. 9', a detail of parts shown in Fig. 4, looking downward from the top of the'gure,

Fig. 10, a wiring diagram,

Fig. 11, a vertical section on line li-ll of Fig. 4,

Fig. 12, a detail of parts shown in Figs, 2 and 4, but in a different position thereof,

Fig. 13, a longitudinal section of a street car with Inodied door operating means,

Fig. 14, a top plan of the same,

Fig. 15, a section similar to Fig. 13, looking at the opposite side of the 'door operating means and showing the doors fully opened,

Fig. 16, a view similar to Fig. 15, showing the doors fully closed,

Fig. 17, a vertical section on line 26-26 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 18, an enlarged detail of parts shown in Fig. 17,

Fig. 19, a detail of parts shown in Fig. 15,

Fig. 20, a rear elevation of parts shown in Fig. 21,

Fig. 21, a similar view showing another modication, differing slightly from that of Fig. 17,

Fig. 22, a plan of the essential portions of another modiiied form of door operating means,

Fig. 23, a similar view with parts in a diierent position,

Fig. 2li, a side elevation of the saine,

Fig. 25, a. bottom plan of a bar shown in Fig. 23,

Figs. 26 to 28, details of parts shown in Fig. 23,

Fig. 29, a horizontal section of one side of a street car, showing another modified form of door operating means,

Fig. 30, a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 31, a detail showing parts in a different position,

Fig. 32, a section on line l-ill of Fig. 30,

Fig. 33, a side elevation of means for operating swinging doors in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 34, a plan of parts shown in Fig. 33, partly in section.

In the drawings reference character 5S indi- Cates a toy street car generally, the same being provided with doors 5l and 52, front wheels 53, rear wheels 54 (or in some cases, as in Fig. 22, with a single set of wheels 55), and a motor E6 (Fig. 22) geared to the wheels in any conventional manner for driving the same. The driving means for the street car is here shown as including a worm wheel 5l driven by a worm 5l ona shaft 56' driven by the motor 56, said worm wheel 5l being Xed to a shaft 58, here shown as the axle of one of the rear Ipairs of wheels. This shaft also carries a pinion 59 engaging a gear 63 on a shaft 6 l said shaft at its other end being provided with a cam 62.

The cam 62 is adapted to act on a follower 63 attached to a bar 64 mounted on a block 65 for reciprocation on a rod 66. The rod 66 has a vertical shoulder at 65 (Figs. 2' and 12) and the block 65 is spring pressed toward the rear of the car by a coil spring 67 on said rod, the spring bearing at its forward end against a shoulder on a squared portion of the rod. Rod 66 is pivoted at 68, so that the parts just described can swing to and fro so as to occupy the various positions shown in Figs. 1, 3, 7 and 12. The rearward movement of the block 65 is limited by a collar 68 on rod 66 (Fig. 12). Both the cam 62 and its follower are tapered for easy engagement.

A leaf spring 69 is mounted on a fixed part ofthe car and serves to move the bar 64 and connected parts toward the position shown in Fig. 4. r

It will be evident that unless the cam 62is in as those in common use for re-closing a circuit wth a delayed action, as in the patent to Abbott, No. 2,268,522. The movable member 84 is normally in contact with switch 83 and is adapted to be bent by a lug 84 on the door as the door is being opened so as to break the main circuit to the motor after which the circuit is closed through usual operation of the blinker 85 to start the car. When the car starts the cam 62 acts on follower 63 to move the connected parts from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 2, the catch 'I5 now holding the door closed and the bent rod Alll pushing the follower 63 away from its cam.

such a position as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4 theV follower 63 will strike against it and cannot move into the position shown in Fig. 4 until after the cam has rotated suiciently to get out of the way of the follower. For moving the follower out of engagement with cam 62 I provide means comprising a bent rock arm I mounted on a pivot 1| and rigidly secured to a rock arm 12. A rock arm I3 is loosely mounted on said pivot and is adjustably positioned with reference to rock arm I2 by means of a screw 74. A detent for the rock arm 13 has a rearwardly projecting arm I5 form-V ing a hook for engaging said rock arm, the de tent being pivoted at 16 and having a downwardly extending arm for engagement with abutments suitably positioned between the tracks on which the car runs. arm I3 is connected to the doors 5| and 52 by a yoke 'I3' shown in Fig. 3. These doors are connected to one another by a rod 'I8 slidably mounted in a fixed sleeve 'IS so that they move simultaneously.

Starting With the doors in the closed position, as in Fig. 2, let it be assumed that the arm l1 strikes an abutment between the tracks. The catch 15 will then be released from arm 13 and The outer end of the the door will be opened at a single stroke by a K spring or weight. At the same time the current will be cut olf the motor, as explained below, so as to stop the car. The position of the door operating parts will now be as in Fig. 4 except that if the cam 62 is not in the position there shown the abutment 63 will strike against it and will prevent the connected parts from making their full movement until after the cam has been rotated sufciently to permit the follower to make its full stroke and rest against the adjacent if frame member. Rotation of the cam 62 will now force the follower toward the front Vof the car, moving the block 65 and oscillating the connected rock arms 10, 12, etc., by the action ofthe shoulder 66' on rod 66 to close the doors as the car starts, the movement of bent arm also forcing the follower olf the cam after it has moved far enough so that the catch will engage the arm 'I3 to prevent reopening of the doors, the parts now again assuming the position of Fig. 2.

The means for temporarily interrupting the current to the motor are shown in Fig. 10 where a circuit is shown as going from a vertical rod 80, which is connected to the trolley, hereinafter described, thence to the motor 56 and through a conductor 8| to a circuit closer comprising spaced apart fixed members 82-83 and a flexible member 84, said parts 82, 83 and 84 being secured to any convenient part of the car, and thence to ground, there being a shunt circuit through a hlinker 85 or delayed action thermal switch, such ment on a rod H3 and are moved toward open position .by means of a spring |I5, shown as extended in Figs. 13, 14 and 16, and as contracted in Fig. 15, where the doors are shown as beingv open. This spring is attached at one end to a fixed lug 6 on the bottom of the car and at the other end to door II I.- A detent I|'| pivoted at 8 engages a lug ||9 (Fig. 19) on the door I for holding the doors normally in closed position.

Means for lifting the detent I1 to release the detent and permit spring I5 to open the doors comprises a vertical rod adapted to be actuated by one arm of a trip |2| whose other arm projects downward into the path of abutments located betweenthe tracks. The rod |20 is guided by a sleeve |22 on the :door of the car.

When the trip |2| is operated to release the detent the doors will be opened to their full extent by the contraction of the spring II5, as in Fig. 24. I

For again closing the doors I provide means comprising'gearing driven from the shaft of'mo.. tor 56, said gearing including a gear |23 meshing with a gear |23 (Fig. 17) on one of the wheels 55. The gear |23 is fixed to a shaft |25 (Fig. 13) having at its other end a pinion |26 meshing with a gear |21 on a shaft |28, which also has fixed thereon a pinion |28 that engages a rockable and slidable rack |29 fixed to a support in the form of a bent rod |30 pivoted on a guide rod 3| and having itsvright hand end (in Fig. 17) extending underneath the detent IIT. The bent rod |30 is supported on the guide rod |3| by means of a sleeve |32 which sleeve can be moved lengthwise of the rod by means of a spring |33, the movement of the sleeve and its rack being limited by a collar |34 secured to the guide rod |3|. This spring normally holds rack |29 in the position of Figs- 13, 14 and 16. The circuit to the motor is broken as in the case of the form of the invention rst described by means comprising contacts |35 on a xed part of the car and a movable contact I 36 (Figs. 15 and 20).

The movable contact is moved toward open position by a spring |31 and is` adapted to be closed by means of a weight |38 normally connected to door. by meanscomprising a cord or wire |39 trained about a pulley |40 and connected to a slidable rod |4I mounted for reciprocating movement in a guide |42 fixed to the car. The rod I 4| is provided at its end next to door with a hook |42 pivoted at I 43 and spring pressed by V:gangsta to retard the movement of the weight l|38 and connected parts when the hook '|42' vis 'released from the door Any suitable form of gearing and/or braking means may be used at this point so long as the friction lis sufficient to retard the fall of the weight appropriately so that it will not fall too suddenly or close the circuit too soon, yet will be effective to move the circuit closer |35 against the tension of spring |31.

In the operation of this form of the invention it will be understood that the car moves alone,r its track until the trip- |2| strikes an abutment between or adjacent to the rails, whereupon the plunger will be forced upward, releasing detent ||1 and permitting the spring ||5 to open the doors. As the doors start to open the weight |38 will be raised thereby so as to permit the circuit closer |36 to rise and break the circuit to the motor. As the doors approach their fully open position the hook |42' is moved away from door by cam |45 and the weight |38 starts slowly downward vto close the circuit through contacts |36 and |35 and thus to put the motor into operation again. While the doors are closed the detent ||1, being in its lowest position, acts von the outer end of the bent lever |30 to hold the rack |29 out of engagement with its pinion as shown in Fig. 17, but when the detent ||1 is raised the rack is permitted to rock into engagement with pinion |28. When the motor circuit is again closed to start the car, rotation of the wheels 55 operates the driving gearing for rack |29 so as to move the rack from the position of Fig. 15 to that of Fig. 16, stretching the spring |33 and moving the doors toward closed position. Fig. 16 shows the device as the doors are almost closed. During this time the detent I1 has ridden on top of the lug ||9 but as the door is closed the detent, which is relatively heavy and which may have weight added at its free end, falls into the position shown in Fig. 19 and strikes the right hand end of bent lever |30 (Fig. 17) moving said lever about its pivot |3| and throwing the rack out of engagement with its pinion |28. The spring |33 being extended at this time and the rack being released from its pinion, the spring will now contract and draw the rack back to the position shown in Fig, 15, i. e., to the extent permitted by collar |34, and the car is now again in straight running position with the doors closed as in Fig. 22.

In the device of Fig. 21 the parts are generally similar to those shown in Figs. 15 to 1'1 and are similarly marked with the exception of the rack |41 which has its bent arm |48 mounted to slide in a sleeve |49, the bent arm and the rack being normally drawn to the rig-ht in Fig. 21 into the inactive position there shown, as by means of a spring |50. The sleeve |49 is held in the position shown in Fig. 21 by means of a sleeve |5| having a 'square opening fitting on a squared rod |52, the construction and opera-tion of these parts being otherwise similar to that of Figs. 15 to 1'7. For moving the rack |41 into operative engagement with its pinion the trip |52, which may be identical in structure with trip 12|, is moved by an abutment adjacent the track so as to liit a plunger |53 and thus to trip the detent ||1. This plunger |53 is provided at its side next to rod |48 with a cam formation such that it moves the rack into engagement with its pinion when the plunger |53 is elevated to permit the door to be opened. The spring |50 again throws the rack lout of engagement with its pinion when the plunger |53 is lowered.

A In the modified form of lthe invention shown in Figs. 122 to v28 'there is illustrated a bar .|54 adapted to be connected to the car doors (not shown). The bar is provided on its underside with rack teeth indicated at |55, which teeth are in engagement with 'the teeth of a pinion |56 loosely mounted on a reduced portion at the end of a shaft |51, the pinion |56 being held `in place by means of a screw having a threadedportion |58 engaging a threaded hole in the end of the shaft said screw also having a head |59 bearing at Iits inner side against the outer face of vthe pinion. At its inner side the pinion, which also serves asa clutch member is provided 'with clutch teeth '|60 for engagement with clutch teeth |6| on a clutch member |62 provided with a spline |53 engaging a slot at |64 in shaft |51.

The clutch member |62 is provided with a circumferential slot to receive a follower |65 on a lever |56 which acts as a clutch shipper .and which is acted on by a spring |61 to `move the lever in a direction to engage clutch members |62 and |56. The bar |54 is provided with a cam |58 arranged to coact with a cam surface at |69 on the lever |66 and there is a notch at |10 on lever |66 into which the tapered portion |1| of a rocker |12 may fall when the relative position -of parts is such as in Fig, 2li. A rocker |12 is pivoted at |13 on bar |54 and has a finger |14 arranged to extend over the adjacent part of bar |54 to limit downward movement of the rocker, as shown in Fig. 24. The rocker |12 has an inclined face at |16 to coact with a similarly inclined face at 11 on bar |06.

In the operation of this form of my invention the bar |154 is secured to the door or doors of the car and the shaft |51 is connected to the running gear of a car by any suitable gearing so that shaft |51 is constantly rotated in a clockwise direction when the car is in motion, the door being held in closed lposition by means such as the detent |1 (Figs. 15 and 19) and being moved toward open position when released by means such as the spring |15 of said figures. When now the door is released and is opened by its spring or by a weight or other suitable means the parts shown are in the running position of Fig. 32 and the bar |54 moves to the left with the door. As these parts move the cam |68 rides out from under the adjacent part of lever |66, permitting the spring |51 to swing lever |66 toward the position of Fig. 22. At this time, however, the rocker |12 is in its lowered position so that the side face of that part of lever |66 which lies immediately to the right of the cam face at |10 in Fig. 23 will Contact with the side face of the lower part of the rocker and so prevent the clutch from being thrown in fully until after the rocker has been carried so far tol the left that the recess |10 will come opposite the lower part of the rocker land thu-s permit lthe clutch inembers to be completely engaged. The delayed action caused Vby engagement of the side `of the lever |56 with the side of the rocker |12 insures that the doors will be iully opened and also that they will remain open for a short interval. Then the clutch member |62, which is constantly rotated by means of its engagement with shaft |51, cornes into engagement with clutch member l|5|3 this member is also rotated in a clockwise direction and due to the engagement of its teeth with those of the bar |54 this bar is now moved toward the right in Fig. 24 to close the doors. As the bar |54 moves toward the 'right the rocker rides up 'out of the recess at |10 'and lever |66 subseand thebar |54-the cam face at |69 on' lever |66 is engaged by lcam |68 to throw the lever |66 toward the position of Fig. 23 and to disengage n the clutch members after' the doors reach aposition where they will be 'locked shut,leaving the doors locked in closed position until the openingl means is again operated. Y

In" the modification of Figs.-29 to 32 there is shown a side wall |18 of a toy street car having doors |19 and |80 secured to a rod |8| which is slidably mounted in bearings |82 andl |83 on the frame oflthe car. A constantly moving reciprocatory bar |84 is also mounted in said bearings immediately above the bar |8|, the bar |84 being reciprocated by means of the link |85 connecting it toa rotary member |86 which may be one of` the'wheelsv supporting the car body or may be geared tok one of said wheels. The reciprocating bar is provided with a hook |81 pivoted at |88 and thebar |8| is provided with a pivoted rocker |89 adapted to be elevated intoga position where it will be engaged by-said hook to move the bar |8| to the right. A bracket |90 Xedto the car frame underneath the bar |8| is provided with a cam facejat |9I.

In the'operation of this modified-form of the invention` ,the bar |84 is constantly reciprocated and when the door is moved toward the left into open position, as for example-by means such as spring ||5 in Fig. 15.- the rocker |89 will ride against the cam face |9| on fixed-block |90 and will be moved thereby into the position shown in Fig. 31. |84 to the right its hook |81 will engage the rocker and close the door, the rocker |89 now being returned to its lowermost position shown in 1 Fig. 30 by gravity and/or due to the fact that the right hand part of the hook is so formed as to force the rocker all the way down so that it cannot be engaged byv thehook except upon again being raised into the position of Fig. 31.

Figs. 33 and 34 show how double doors may be operated by such expedients as above described, reference character |92 indicating a bar which is moved lengthwise of the car in one direction to open the doors and in the other direction to close them. This bar engages rock arms |93, |94 respectively mounted to rock about pivots |95, |96. Fixed to the respective rock arms for pivotal movement therewith are gears |91', |98 having segmental sets of gear teeth meshing respectively with similar teeth on similar gears |99 and 200. Connected to the respective members I 91 and |98 to oscillate therewith there are doors 20| and 202, While doors 203 and 204 are similarly connected with the members |99 and 200 respectively. 'Ihus it will be seen that there are provided pairs of doors, the doors of each pair being swingable away' from one another to open a doorway and toward one another to 'close it upon operation of the slidable bar |92 by means such as lhereinbeiore described. Y* A It will be obvious to those skilled in the art-'that shown and described in the specification, all without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore I do not limit myself to What is so shown and described but-only to what is Upon the next movement of the bar o 65 various changes may be made in the devices in a directionparallel tothe -plane-'ofjthe-door to close said door, means for connectingsaid member to the drivinggear of the car `for causing said member to be moved thereby, means for normally rendering said connecting means inoperative and means operated during the opening movement of the door for positioning said'connecting means to close the door after itvhas been fully opened.

2. In a toy electric street car-,a motor for driving the car, a door, means biased to open said door, means for holding the door closed, a trip for releasing said holding means, said trip-being adapted to be actuated by a xed abutment adjacent the path of travel of said car, and means operated in tne opening movement of the door to break the circuit ofsaid motor, aslidable membeiya releasablegmember movable with said slidable element as the door is opened, means for releasing said releasable element as the door approaches its fully opened positiommeans controlled by said releasable element for lie-closing said motor circuit, and retarding meansacting on said last-named means for holding the-motor circuit open for a predetermined period 3. In a toy electric street car, a motor for driving the car, a door, means biased to open said door, means for holding the door closed, a trip for releasing said holding means, said trip being adapted to be actuated by a fixed abutment ad- :jacent the path of travel of said car, means operated in the openingmovement of the door to break the circuit of said motor, and automatic means for subsequently re-closing said circuit and said door. y l

4. A toy electric street car comprising a slid,- ing door, a motor for driving the carmeans for opening said door, a circuit closer in circuit with said motor including a movable switch member, means operated by 'said door as it opens for moving said switch member to break the motor circuit, automatic means fo-r re-closing the motor circuit after the stopping of the car, and automatic means for closing said door upon restarting of the car.

5. A toy electric street car comprising a sliding door, a motor for driving the car, means for opening said door, a circuit closer in circuit with said motor including a normally-closed switch member,` a shunt. circuit including a blinker, means movable with said door as it is opened for moving said member to break said motor circuit andv to close a circuit through said blinker so as to restart the car after a predetermined interval, and automatic means for closing the door upon restarting of the car.

6. A toy electric car having wheels for engaging the rails of a railway, a side door for the car, means for securing said door in closed position, a trip operable by a iixed abutment adjacent the railway, said trip being constructed and arranged to release said securing means, a cam operated by a Wheel of the car, door closing means operable by said cam includingV a cam follower movable into and out of engagement withsaid cam, and means under control of said trip for placing said element in position to be operated by said cam to close said door.

'7. A toy electric car having wheels for engaging the rails of a railway, a slidable side door, means for locking said door in closed position,` a trip operable by a xed abutment adjacent the railway, said trip-being constructed and arranged to release said locking means, a cam operated by a wheel of the car, door closing means operable by said cam including a cam follower movable into and out of engagement with said cam, means under control of said trip for placing said follower in position to be operated by said cam for closing said door and causing it to be locked in closed position, and means operated by said cam in closing said door for removing said follower from said cam.

8. A toy electric car having wheels for engaging the rails of a railway, a slidable side door for the car, a trip operable by a xed abutment adjacent the railway, said trip being constructed and arranged to release said securing means, a cam operated by a wheel of the car, door closing means operable by said cam including a cam follower movable into and out of engagement with said cam, means for engaging said door closing means to lock the door in closed position, means under control of said trip for placing said follower in position to be operated by said cam for closing said door, and means operated by said cam in closing said door for disconnecting said follower from said cam, for positioning the door closing means so as to be engaged by the locking means and to lock said follower in idle position out of engagement with said cam.

9. A toy electric street car having a frame, running gear including wheels supporting the frame, a doorway in the frame, a side door for the car, locking means for holding the door closed, means biased to open the door, means for releasing said locking means to permit the door to open, connections between said door and a wheel of the running gear for closing said door, said connections including a cam driven by said wheel, a reciprocatory element operable by said cam but normally out of engagement with said cam, means operated by said lock-releasing means for positioning said reciprocatory element for operation by said cam, and connections from said reciprocating element to said door for closing the same.

10. A toy electric street car having a frame, running gear including wheels supporting the frame, a doorway in the frame, a side door for the car, locking means for holding the door closed, means tending to open the door, means for releasing said locking means to permit the door to open, connections between said door and a wheel of the rimning gear for closing said door, said connections including a cam driven by said wheel, a reciprocating element operable by said cam but normally out of engagement with said cam, means operated by said lock-releasing means for positioning said reciprocating element for operation by said cam, and connections from said reciprocating element to said door for closing the same, said last named connections also acting to disconnect said reciprocatory element from said cam.

11. In a toy electric car, a door, a rack secured to the door, a normally-stationary pinion engaging said rack, a member arranged for constant rotation when the car is in motion, means for opening said door, and means for connecting said constantly rotating member to said pinion upon the opening of said door, said member rotating in a direction to close said door.

12. In a toy electric street car, a slidable door, means tending to open the door, door-closing means including a lever connected at one end to the door, a detent acting on said lever to hold the door closed, a rod connected to said lever and adapted to be moved lengthwise of the car, a pivotal support for said rod, a cam follower on said rod, a rotary cam constantly driven when the car is in motion, means for releasing said detent when the door is to be opened, means tending to swing said rod and position said follower for operation by said cam when said detent is released, and means for moving said cam follower away from said cam as the door is being closed.

13. In a toy electric street car, a slidable door, a rack movable parallel to the plane of the door and connected thereto, a pinion connected to the car driving means for operating said rack to close the door, and means rendered effective upon opening of the door for connecting the rack to the pinion so as to close the door when the car is started.

14. In a. toy electric street car, a slidable door, a rack movable parallel to the plane of the door; a pinion which is rotated constantly while the car is in motion, means operable upon the opening of the door to cause the pinion to drive said rack so as to close the door, and means to interrupt said drive upon the closing of the door.

15. In a toy electric street car, a door slidable lengthwise of the car, a door operating member also movable lengthwise of the car, means for opening the door, a member rotating constantly while the car is in motion, means for connecting said last-named member to said door-operating member upon opening of the door so as to actuate said door operating member to close the door.

16. In a toy electric street car, a slidable door, a clutch member rotating constantly in a direction to close said door when the car is in motion, a normally stationary clutch member, means for automatically engaging said clutch members when the door is opened, and means for automatically disengaging said clutch members when the door is closed.

17. In a toy electric street car, a slidable door. an actuating member therefor reciprocable in a line parallel to the plane of the door, an actuating member for said door constructed for constant movement when the car is in motion, and means arranged to act upon opening of said door to establish operative connection between said constantly movable member and said actuating member for closing the door.

18. A device as in claim 17, including automatic means to disestablish said connection upon the closing of said door.

19. In a toy street car, a slidable door, a pinion constantly driven when the car is in motion, a rack connected to the door to reciprocate therewith, said rack and pinion being normally disengaged, and means for automatically engaging them when the door is opened.

20. In a toy electric car, a motor for driving the car, a door, means biased to open the door, means for holding the door closed, a trip for releasing the said holding means, said trip adapted to be actuated by a fixed abutment adjacent the path of travel of the car, means operated in the opening movement of the door to break the circuit of said motor, said last-mentioned means including a slidable member, means connecting the said slidable member to the door in its opening movement, means for releasing the slidable member from the door as the door approaches its fully opened position, and means for re-closing the motor circuit upon release of said slidable member.

GEORGE H. M. DAHL. 

